San Bernardino County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from footing, or any wall supporting a surcharge. Engineered plans required over 4 feet.
Under California Building Code Section 105.2 as adopted by San Bernardino County, a building permit is required for any retaining wall that exceeds 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or any retaining wall of any height that supports a surcharge such as a sloped backfill, driveway, or adjacent structure. Walls 4 feet or less that do not support a surcharge are exempt from permits but must still comply with setback requirements in Development Code Chapter 83.06. Engineered plans stamped by a California-licensed civil or structural engineer are required for walls over 4 feet. In mountain and foothill areas (Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Wrightwood, Crestline) with steep terrain, additional geotechnical review may be required. Drainage behind the wall must be provided to prevent hydrostatic pressure failure. Combined fence-on-wall assemblies must meet the 6-foot fence height rule measured from the highest adjacent grade.
Unpermitted retaining walls can trigger a stop work order, administrative citations starting at 100 dollars, and require removal or retroactive engineering certification. Failed walls in mountain areas pose life-safety risks and may trigger emergency abatement billed to the property owner.
San Bernardino County, CA
Unincorporated San Bernardino County allows personal cannabis cultivation only indoors. State Proposition 64 (Health & Safety Code Section 11362.1) permits u...
San Bernardino County, CA
San Bernardino County is entirely inland - Mojave Desert, Inland Empire, and the San Bernardino Mountains - with no coastline and no California Coastal Commi...
San Bernardino County, CA
Unincorporated San Bernardino County treats an above-ground residential pool deeper than 18 inches as a swimming pool under the California Swimming Pool Safe...
San Bernardino County, CA
California SB 54, the California Values Act, limits how San Bernardino County Sheriff and other local agencies may cooperate with federal immigration authori...
San Bernardino County, CA
California requires most employers, including warehouse and logistics operators in the Inland Empire portion of San Bernardino County, to provide at least 40...
San Bernardino County, CA
San Bernardino County does not set a local minimum wage, so the California statewide rate of 16.50 dollars per hour applies in 2026 to most employers in unin...
See how San Bernardino County's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.